A look at recent state anti-bullying laws

A look at laws passed or updated by state legislatures in the year since the suicide of Rutgers University student Tyler Clementi brought renewed attention to the problem of bullying:

_ Arkansas: Requires school districts to train staff members about bullying and investigate credible reports. A second law bans cyberbullying.

_ California: First state requiring public schools to teach in social studies about the contributions of gays and lesbians. A conservative group is pushing to overturn the law by public vote.

_ Colorado: Outlaws bullying by electronic means and requires training for teachers on how bullying can affect students and is often based on minority status.

_ Connecticut: Requires anti-bullying training for all school employees, sets deadlines for administrators to investigate reports and requires publicly available statistics.

_ New Jersey: Requires anti-bullying policies in schools; passage was expedited after Clementi's death in September 2010.

_ Rhode Island: Requires state Education Department to develop policies banning bullying by Internet or text message to be adopted by every district by the end of June next year. Also would ban student Facebook use during school hours.

_ Washington state: Requires school staff members to intervene in bullying situations and requires districts to respond in writing to bullying complaints within five days.